Court pushes 'sick' nurses to go back to work

A "sick-out" by nurses at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, which left 18 of 23 nurses' slots in the emergency room unfilled last Friday, ended Monday when Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs issued a temporary restraining order against the Service Employees International Union Local 660, which represents the nurses. Sparse staffing on Friday forced Los Angeles County health officials to divert some patients to other hospitals, according to published reports. The nurses, who have worked without a contract since Sept. 30, began the sick-out Friday and continued the job action through the holiday weekend. On July 4, all three nurses scheduled to work in the burn union called in sick. Annelle Grajeda, general manager of Local 660, which represents about 6,000 nurses working for Los Angeles County, said the union did not organize the sick-out. "On the other hand, I totally understand our members' frustration," Grajeda said. "It's just been really difficult for them to go this long without a contract in place." -- by Michael Romano